WEB HOSTING F.A.Q

• What is web hosting?
• Do I need a domain name before I find a host?
• Can I keep my domain name if I move to a different host?
• Does it matter whether I use a Macintosh or Windows computer?
• What are POP email accounts?
• What is email forwarding (email aliasing)?
• What are FrontPage extensions?
• How A Domain Name Works ?
• What is a Domain Name ?

How A Domain Name Works ?
Although the concept of a domain name may seem simple enough using a sequence of letters and words to identify a Web address, there is a great deal more going on "behind the scenes". This is because a domain name does not represent a Web site's true address; rather, it is a mask that makes a Web site's true address easier to remember.

Domain names are actually attached to a DNS (Domain Naming System) server, which is used to translate numeric addresses (known as IP, or Internet Protocol, addresses) into words. Each site you visit on the net has a numeric IP address behind its name, which represents the site's real address on the Internet.

Every domain name must be attached to a DNS server, which is the responsibility of the domain?s owner (most registrars and Web hosts will handle this issue for you). There is no one central registry for DNS information; when a user enters a domain name in to their Web browser, it is up to that URL's DNS to handle the request. The DNS server then provides the browser with the correct IP, if it exists; otherwise, it returns an error message or redirects the user elsewhere.

After an IP has been determined, the user can interact with the Web server to access specific pages. While this is a specific and complex process in itself, here is a general overview as to how it works:

1. The browser now determines which protocol (the language client machines use to communicate with servers) should be used. Examples of protocols include FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, and HTTP, HyperText Transfer Protocol.

2. The server sends a GET request to the Web server to retrieve the address it has been given. For example, when a user types http://www.example.com/1.jpg, the browser sends a GET 1.jpg command to example.com and waits for a response. The server now responds to the browser's requests. It verifies that the given address exists, finds the necessary files, runs the appropriate scripts, exchanges cookies if necessary, and returns the results back to the browser. If it cannot locate the file, the server sends an error message to the client.

3. The browser translates the data it has been given in to HTML and displays the results to the user.

This process is repeated until the client browser leaves the site.

When you purchase a domain name, you should be able to edit your DNS information as often as you like. Make sure to retain your login information, as DNS servers tell users where to go; if you need to update your DNS information and you can't access your control panel, users will never find your Web site.

An Introduction to Domain Names
Simply put, a domain name is a "front" - they are word sequences users enter in their browser's location bar to visit your site, but are not a Web site's true address. Domain names are attached to DNS (Domain Naming System) servers, which are used to translate numeric addresses (known as IP, or Internet Protocol, addresses) into words. Each site you visit on the net has a numeric IP address behind its name, which represents the site's true address on the Internet.

Domain names are typically categorized by their extension, which is their identifying code. The three most popular types of Top Level Domains (TLDs), which are domains that are not associated with a country, are:

.COM: Short for .commercial. Domain names with the .com extension are by far the most popular, and can be purchased by any individual or business. .

.NET: Short for .network, this domain extension was originally designed to be used by technical Web sites. However, domains using this extension can be registered by anyone.

.ORG: Short for .organization. Originally designated for non-profit firms and any other organizations that did not fit under the .com or .net extension, any individual or business may now register a .org domain name.

COUNTRY LEVEL DOMAINS

Domain names can also be assigned using country extensions. Each country has its own domain extension; Canada, for example, is .ca, while Japan has been assigned .jp. Most countries have specific rules surrounding exactly who can register domains using their extension and for what purpose; it's therefore important to look before you leap.

ALTERNATIVE DOMAIN NAMES

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization responsible for the administration of TLDs worldwide, recently approved several new extensions that are not specific to any country. These are:

• .areo
• .biz
• .coop
• .info
• .museum
• .name
• .pro

  Each has been designed for a specific use, and is accompanied by certain restrictions. You can find more information about these TLDs here: http://www.icann.org/tlds/

  OTHER DOMAIN EXTENSIONS

  In searching for your domain name, you may encounter Web sites offering extensions like .xxx, .free and .mp3. These are not true extensions endorsed by ICANN; rather, they rely on software solutions to guarantee their accessibility to users. Because ICANN has not approved any of these extensions, however, users that do not have the correct software cannot access sites using these names; therefore, they should be used for supplemental purposes only.

  Although .com, .net and .org are typically the most visible and talked-about extensions, they are not the only ones available for use. From a functional perspective, country-level domains work just as well as any TLDs, and alternative extensions work just as well. Therefore, don't necessarily settle for a mediocre TLD when you can get a better one using a different extension.